Counterbalancing means for centrifugal driers



Oct. 26, 1926.

- 1,604,748 A. H. GRAUER COUNTERBALANCING MEANS FOR GENTRIEUGAL DRIERS Filed April '27., 1925 4 SheetsSheet 1 A TTORNEYS Oct. 26,1926.

A. H. GRAUER COUNTERBALANCING MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL DRIERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 27, 1925.

I 6. v INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,748 A. H. GRAUER couu'masamucme mums FOR CENTRIFUGAL DRIEHS Filed April 27', 1925 Y s 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS. I

Patented a. '26,- T1926.

UNIT-ED STATESPATENT OFFICE. I

ALLAN-H. (manna, or symcusn, new YORK, assrenon or onn nnrr 'ro HARRY-E.

I NEWELL, or smaousn, NEW YORK.

' oouurnnnumcme mums r03 cnnrnmueu. names.

Application filed April 27, 1925. Serial Tin-25,973.

This invention relates to washing machines of the type embodying a centrifugal drier, that is, the type in which the clothes are dried by rotating the clothes receptacle It while out of the water, or cleansin'gfluid, and has for its object a particularly simple and eficicnt means for automatically balancing and maintaining the balance of the re- Figure 1 is a vertical fragmentary sect-ional View of a washing machine embody ing my invention, the mounting for the clothes receptacle when being "used as a drier and the tub of the washing machine being shown.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the receptacle and the hub therefor.

Figure 3 is a of the spindle.

Figure 4 is a face view of the hub of the receptacle coaeting with the spindle.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sect onal view on the plan view of Figure 1 looking upwardly.

Figure-7 is a detail view of the spindle showing-the pump blades thereon. Figure 8 is a detail view of the inlet pipe leading from the pump and supplying water to the annular chamber or tank when the receptacle is in drying position.

In washing machines of this type, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the clothes receptacle is arranged in the tub in an inclined position during the washing opv oration, and duringthe drying operation the receptacle is shifted out of the waterso as to stand in a vertical position to rotate about a vertical axis. 7 s

This invention has nothing to do. with the operation of the Washing machine when the plan view of the upper end ceptacle and its contents during its rotation receptacle is in washing position, and only relates to features operating when the receptacle 1s shifted to drying position. Neither does the-invention have anything to.

do with the driving mechanism.

This invention has for its object meant for automaticallycounterbalancing the receptacle when acting as a. centrifugal drier, that is, when rotating about its upright axis. Aswill be understood by those skilled in the art, the clothes in the receptacle are usually heavier on one side of the receptacle than another, and the overbalancing weight gives a. throw or jar to the machine during the drying operation. M

This invention relates to the automatic balancing and the maintaining of the balance of the receptacle during its rotation about its upright axis and when standing in its-drying position just prior to the drying operation, and may be embodied in any type of machine in which the clothes receptacle is used as a centrifugal drier.

These washing machines usually comprise a tub, a clothes receptacle rotatable in the tub, and means for rotating the receptacle in the tub. Water is filled into the tub to a predetermined level, and during the washing operation, the receptacle is arranged on an inclined axis, so that during its rotation it dips into the'water in the tub, and the clothes are tumbled in the receptacle. After the clothes are washed, the receptacle is shifted to an upright position, so that, it is out of the water, and rotated so that the water is thrown out by the centrifugal force. The receptacle is perforated, in order that the water may drain therefrom and also be thrown outwardly'by the centrifugal force.

the connections with the driving mechanism while in its inclined position or its position assumed when used as a washer.

5 designates the clothes receptacle, which .may be ofany suitable form, size and construction, it having its bottom and a circumferential side wall perforated. 1

6 designates a supporting base to be hereinafter described this base being secured to the spindle or shaft 4, in any suitable manner to rotate therewith.

The receptacle 5 is provided with a means for flexibly coupling it to the spindle to permit a shifting of the receptacle relatively to the spindle and the pedestal when the receptacle is being used as a drier. As here shown, the receptacle is formed with a hub 7 on the under side of its bottom. This hub within the clutch face 9. The clutch section 8 is shifted vertically in any suitable manner, as by a stem 11' extending axially through the hub andhaving a handle 12 at its upper end, accessible through the top of the receptacle 5. The stem 11 coacts with the inner ends of levers 13 pivoted at 14 to the hub within a transverse channel 15 therein,. these levers 13 being connected at their outer ends to studs 16 connected to the clutch section 8.-

As seen in Figure 2, during pulling up on the handle 12, 'the clutch section 8' will be thrust downwardly into engagement with the section 9 and the handle 12 is then screwed down by means of the threads 11 on the stem v11, thus rigidly connecting the shaft 4 and the hub 7 together, but when the handle 12 is pushed downwardly to its position shown in Figure 2, the clutch face 8 is lifted upwardly and the ball 10 fulcrums on the upper end of the shaft 4 and permits the receptacle to tilt or to shift radially within limits. The clutch face 8 is held in its upward position against the action of a spring 11*.

The means for counterbalancing the receptacle 5 durmg its rotation or standing position is operated by the shifting of the receptacle 5 relatively to its vertical axis,

and this shifting movement is a tilting and a radial movement, and the counterbalancing action is effected by either the tilting of the receptacle about the ball 10 as the fulcrum, or by the radial shifting of the recepta'cle due to the ball 10 being capable of movmg laterally on the u per end of the shaft 4, or by the combine action of these two shifting movements. Either or both of these movements act to operate means for'adding weight to the lighter portion of the receptacle, or portion of the receptacle diametrically opposite the overbalancing weight of the contents of the receptacle, or to subtract weight from the receptacle on the heavier side thereof, and preferably operates to add weight to the light side andsubstract weight from the heavier side during rotation of the receptacle or just prior to the rotation of the receptacle and after the o erator has distributed orbalanc'ed the clot es therein to the best of his ability. 1

In .theillustrated embodiment of my invention, the weight added and subtracted is Water taken from any suitable source of supply, preferably from the --water in the tub beneath the receptacle. a

In order to utilize the Water to counterbalance and maintain the balance of the recepta cle 5, the receptacle 5 is provided with an annular series of pockets 20 at the rim thereof below the bottom 21 of the receptacle, these pockets being disconnected from, that is, they do not communicate with, the interior of the receptacle 5, and being also disconnected from each other, said pocketshaviiig an inner annular wall 22 which underlies the bottom wall 23 ofan annular water receiving chamber 24 supported on the base 6.

The pockets 20 are provided with normally closed outlet valves 25. The annular water chamber 24 on the base 6 is provided with normally closed outlet valves 26 arranged to discharge into the pockets 20, these valves 26 serving as inlets for the pockets 20. Water may be" supplied to the annular water chamber 24 in any suitable manner and as here shown the water is supplied by a pump as spiral blades 27 formed on the shaft 4 and located within a' suitable casing 28 having an inlet pipe 29 communicating with the tub 1 and a discharge pipe 30 communicating with the annular chamber 24. This casing 28 is formed with trunnions 31 journalled in brackets 32 on the support or pedestal 2 said trunnions being formed with assages which communicate with the inlet pipe 29 and the discharge pipe 30.

The means for openingthe valves 25 of the pockets on the heavier side of the receptacle 5. comprises cams carried by and rotatable with the arms-of the base 6 and connections carried by the pockets and arranged to be brought into engagement with the camsduring either the radial shifting or the tilting movement of the receptacle 5.

34 and 35 designate the cam surfaces which ceptacle 5 shifts or tilts include a stem" or rod 37- for each outlet valve 25, such stem being flexibly or pivotally connected to the outer wall of the pocket and connected to the valve head at 39 and having a head 40 arran ed to engage the cam surfaces 34, 35.

O viously, as the receptacle 5 shifts radially or tilts downwardly under the centrifugal force or the over-balanced load in the rece tacle 5, the head 40 on the heavier side of t e receptacle will engage the cam surfaces 34 or or both of them and thus open the outlet valve 25 for the corresponding pocket 20 and ermit the water to discharge therefrom and ience, lighten the heavier side of the receptacle, and as here illustrated the cam surfaces 34 and the surfaces on the heads coacting therewith are radial with the point of suspension of the receptacle, therefore the valves will notbe operated when the receptacle tilts upwardly.

- The means for operating the outlet valves 26 for the annular water receptacle 24 which valves are the intake valves for the pockets 20 comprise cam surfaces 41 and 42 provided on depending arms 42 at the edge of the bottom of the receptacle 5, and connections for each valve including a stem 43 ivotally or flexibly connected at 44 to the Easeti or the bottom of the annularjreceptacle 24, the stem being connected to the valve head 26 and having a head 45 for coa-cting with the cam surfaces 41 and 42.

Obviously, as the receptacle tilts or shifts radially under the influence of an overweight on one side of its axis, the arms 42 or the cam surfaces-41 and 42 thereof which move with the receptacle 5, will come incontact with the head 45 and open the intake valve 26 for the pocket or pockets 2O onthe lighter side of the receptacle 5 permitting water to enter the pockets on the lighter side from the annular receptacle 24. Thus, water is subtracted from the heavier side of the receptacle and added to the lighter side.

In order to facilitate and maintainv the balance. the water extracted or thrown centrifugally through the perforations of the wall of the receptacle 5 is caught in an annular series of compartments open at each end formed around the receptacle 5 and corresponding in number to the pockets 20, said compartments being provided by a deflector plate 51 having upright spaced apart partitions 51 thereon spaced apart from the outer face of the receptacle 5, the compartments 50 opening into the pockets 20.

Means is provided for opening these valves 25 when the clutch-section 8 is lowered so that the clutch sections 8 and 9 engage. These connections comprise levers having arms 52, 53 'mounted to rock about pins 54 carried in suitable lugs 55 on the hub 7 of the receptacle 5, each arm 52 being arranged under a shoulder 56 on the stems 16 which areconnected to the clutch section 8, and the arm 53 being connected by cables 57 to the'stems of the valves 25.

There are two arms 52, 53. located diametrically opposite each other on opposite .that the water in the annular receptacle 24 may drain off, all the valves 26 which are the outlet valves for said chamber 24 are open when the clutch face 8 is lowered to engage the clutch face 9. These valves are operated in a manner similar to the valves 25 by lever arms 58 and 59 mounted on the pins 54 and connected by cables 60 to the valves 26, they being here shown as connected to the heads 45 on the stems 43 which open said valves 26. The arm 58 is actuated when the clutch face 8 is lowered by a pivoted shoulder or ratchet tooth 61'pivoted at 62 to the head of each stem 16 and so mounted that during downward movement of the clutch face 8, the shoulder or tooth 61 engages the/ lever arm 58 and mo- 1 mentarily opens the valves 26 and then 7 In operation, the handle 12 is pushed downwardly to disengage the clutch faces 8, 9, then when the motor is started and the receptacle 5 rotated, the heavier side of the receptacle will cause it to tilt or shift radially or both, causingthe outlet valves 25 of the pockets on the heavier side to open and the inlet valves 26 ofthe pockets on the lighter side to also open so that water is subtracted from the heavier side and added to the lighter side, the water being supplied to the annular chamber 24 and hence to the pockets by the pump 27. Thus a balance is quickly struck and maintained and any additional overbalancing due to shifting of the clothes in the receptacle is instantly counterbalanced. And as here shown, the cam surfaces 34 and 35 and the cam surfaces 41 and 42 are very narrow and the surfaces on the heads 40 and 515 cooperating therewith are formed to a knife edge thereby preventing the opening or closing of more thanone of the valves and 26at the same time. Also any movement of .the clothes receptacle when in its upright position and prior to the starting of the motor will cause the valves to operate and balance said clothes receptacle.

What I claim is 1. In a centrifugal drier forwashing machines, the combinationof a clothes receptacle. mountable to rotate about a vertical axis and means for rotating it about a vertical axis, and means for retaining water extracted from the clothes in said receptacle, and for subtracting said water from the heavier portion of the receptacle during the. rotation thereof.

2. In a centrifugal drier, the combina of a receptacle mountable to rotate about a.

vertical axis and means for rotating it about a vertical axis, the receptacle being formed with an annular series of pockets, means for supplying liquid extracted from the receptacle to saidpockets, and means for effecting the discharge of said liquid from pockets located on the heavier side of the receptacle diametrically opposite the lighter portions of the receptacle during rotation of the receptacle.

4. In a centrifugal drier, the combination of a receptacle mountable to rotate about a. verical axis and means for rotating it about a vertical axis, the receptacle being formed with an annular series of pockets, and-means for efi'ecting the discharge of water from pockets located on the heavier side of the receptacle diametrically opposite the lighter portions of the receptacle during rotation of the receptacle and means for filling water into the pockets on the lighter side of the receptacle diametrically opposite the heavier portions thereof during the rotation of the receptacle.

5. In-a centrifugal drier, the combination of a receptacle mountable to rotate about a vertical axis and to shift radially relatively to such axis during the rotation of the receptacle by the overbalancing weight of the contents of the receptacle and means operated by such radial shifting to counterbalance the1 overbalancing weight within the receptac e. v

6. In a centrifugal drier, the combination of a receptacle mountable to rotate about a vertical axis and. to shift radially relatively to such axis, and also to tilt relatively to such axis and means operated by the radial shifting and tilting movements to counterbalance the receptacle during the rotation thereof.

7. In a centrifugal drier, the combination.

of a receptacle mountable to rotate about a vertical axis and to shift relatively to such axis durin the rotation of the receptacle, by the overba ancing weight of the contents of the receptacle, the rece tacle being formed with an annular series 0? pockets, and means for automatically supplying water to the pockets on the lighter side of the rece tacle diametrically opposite the overbalance side during the rotation of the rece tacle and means operated by the shifting o the receptacle for empt ing the water from pockets on the heavier side diametricallyopposite the pockets taking in water.

8. In a centrifugal drier, the combinationof a receptacle mountable to rotate about a vertical axis and to shift relatively to such axis during the rotation of the receptacle by the overbalancing weight of the contents of the receptacle, the receptacle being provided tlil) with an annular series of pockets, a normally closed outlet valve for each of the pockets, and a normally closed inlet valve for each of the pockets, and means operated by the shift ing of the receptacle, for opening the outlet valves on the heavier side of the receptacle and opening the inlet valves on the lighter side during'the rotation of the rece tacle.

9. In a centrifugal drier, the com ination of a receptacle and a base therefor, the base being formed with an upright spindle, a connection between the receptacle and the spindleoperable to flexibly connect the receptacle and the base to permit the receptacle to shift relatively to the axis ofthe spindle, the receptacle being formed with an annular series of pockets, each pocket having an outlet valve, and an inlet valve means for opening the outlet valve comprising cam means carried by the base, means for opening the inlet valve comprising cam means carried by the receptacle and connections coacting with said cam means to open the outlet valve during shifting of the receptacle in one direction and to 0 en the corresponding inlet valve during sald shifting of the receptacle. I

10. In a centrifugal drier, the combination of a clothes receptacle and a base therefor, the base being formed with an upright spindle, a connection between the receptacle and the spindle o erable to flexibly connect the receptacle an the spindle to permit the receptacle to shift relatively to the axis of the spindle, the receptacle being formed with an annular series of pockets, each pocket having an outlet valve, and an inlet valve, means for opening the outlet valve comprising cam means rotatable with the receptacle and condrying nections coacting with said cam means to open the outlet valve during shifting of the receptacle in one direction and to open the corresponding inlet valve during said shifting of the receptacle, said receptacle being formed with perforations and also provided with an annular compartment for receiving the water thrown through said perforations, the compartment opening into said ockets.

11. In a centrifugal .dr1er, the com ination of a clothes receptacle and a spindle therefor, a connection between the receptacle and the spindle operable to flexibly connect the receptacle and the spindle to permit the receptacle to shift relatively to the axis of the spindle when in its drying position, the receptacle being formed with an annular series ofpockets, each pocket havin an outlet valve, and an inlet valve, means or opening the outlet valves, comprising cam'means carried by the base means for opening the inletfvalves comprising cam means carried by the receptacle and connections coacting with said cam means to open one of the outlet valves during shifting. of the receptacle in one direction and to open the corresponding inlet'valve during the shifting of the receptacle during rotation of the receptacle, and means for supplying water radially to the pockets through the' inlet valves.

12. In a centrifugal drier, the combination of a clothes receptacle and a spindle therefor,

a. connection between the receptacle and the spindle o erable to rigidly connect the receptacle an the spindle together when in its osition or to flexibly connect the receptac e and the spindle to permit the receptacle to shift relatively to the axis of the spindle, the receptacle being formed with an annular series of pockets, each pocket having an outlet valve, and an inlet valve, means for opening the outlet valves, comprising cam means carried by the base means for opening the inlet valves comprising cam means carried by the receptacle and connections coacting with said cam means to open one of the outlet valves during shifting of the receptacle in one direction and to open.

the corresponding inlet valve durin the shifting of the receptacle during rotatlon of the receptacle.

13. In a centrifugal drier, the combination of a clothes receptacle and a base therefor,

as inlet valves for the pockets, means for' opening the outlet valves comprising cam means carried by the base, means for opening the inlet valves comprising cam means carried by the receptacle and connections coacting with said cam means to open one of the outlet valves during shifting of the receptacle in one direction and to open the cor-' receptacle, and means for passing water radially from the axis of the base to the annular water chamber.

14. In a centrifugal drier, thecombination of a base mountable to rotate about a ver-' tical axis, a clothes receptacle carried by the base and mounted to shift relatively to such axis and the base during the rotation of the receptacle by the overbalancing weight of the contents of the receptacle, the basebeing provided with a central vertical shaft and the receptacle being formed with an annular series of pockets and the base-with an annular water chamber between the pockets and the shaft, the pockets having outlet valves and the annular chamber having outlet valves which constitute inlet valves of the vpockets, means operated b the shifting of the receptacle, during t e rotation thereof for openingone of the outlet valvesof the pockets on the heavier side of the responding inlet valve during shifting of the receptacle and opening the corresponding inlet valve of the pocket on the li hter side thereof, a pump associated with t e spindle and communicating with a supply of water,

ALLAN H. GRAUERQ I 

